The issue over Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb threatens to turn into a law and order problem in the state after rallies across the state by Hindu groups who want the tomb to be destroyed, and rioting by Muslims in Nagpur.

The state government has a tough decision at hand, said members of the Muslim community. "Which is why the Fadnavis government has deployed police to protect the grave. Whilst the Bajrang Dal and other extremist Hindu organisations and leaders are threatening to destroy the grave, it is now up to the Fadnavis government to uphold the law," said Feroze Mithiborwala from Hum Bharat Ke Log.

Mansoor Khan, president of the Sufi Islamic Board, which accepts a moderate interpretation of the faith, said that it should be remembered that Khuldabad, the site of Aurangzeb's tomb, is important because it is the shrine of a Sufi saint, Zain-u-din, and a place where a robe believed to be that of prophet Mohammad is enshrined. 

According to Khan, those who admire Aurangzeb are members of fundamentalist groups that do not believe in saints and worship their dargahs (tombs). "Aurangzeb had a dargah near Jama Masjid in Delhi demolished. It was illness that took him to the Khuldabad dargah where he was later buried. Aurangzeb's tomb cannot be considered holy by Sufis," said Khan.

Mithiborwala said that no Muslim or any  Indian approved of the torture and killing of Sambhaji Maharaj by the Mughal king. "Aurangzeb is not some popular figure, nor is his grave a shrine where Muslims visit, so this entire attempt to portray Aurangzeb as some Muslim hero is far removed from the social reality," said Mithiborwala.

Khan said he believed that Aurangzeb spread radical Islamic ideology in India. "Some governments were involved in making Aurangzeb a hero," Khan said.

Guddi S L, a socio-political activist who describes herself as a Gandhian, said Aurangzeb's tomb should not be an issue when the country has other things to solve, like poverty, unemployment, and poor health facilities. "History has good and bad players. It is time to view history differently and not from the perspective of politicians," said Guddi.

Mithiborwala said the government has created the issue with an eye on the coming local body elections. "There is a clear agenda to polarise the electorate, as that is the only formula they have to win the elections."Muslim leaders have appealed to keep the peace in the state. Shuaib Khatib, trustee of Mumbai's Jama Masjid, said that Nagpur has the dargah of Hazrat Baba Tajuddin. "The city has seen peace for 300 years, but the actions of a few people caused the riots and destroyed that reputation. I appeal to everyone to ignore rumours," said Khatib.